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After a very successful year for Lake Hopatcong that stayed at almost full-pool throughout the summer, we are set to enter the 22” drawdown this December.

According to NJ State Park administration that is part of the draw-down, the exact start of the draw-down will be based upon the rainfall, and the amount of water that we can send over the dam. While it will start in December, we are not sure of the exact date at this point.

The draw-down is expected to drop the lake to about 7.2 feet as measured at the dam. This will allow the local lakefront homeowners to conduct the necessary repairs to their property.

Pilot Project is Working:

Started in the Fall of 2016 as a pilot project, the new drawdown drops the lake 22 inches and reduces outflow from the lake. While the lake had other challenges this year in the form of weeds, and alga blooms, the water level was at an ideal level for boaters.

Five Foot Drawdown for 2018 still in review

As Hopatcong Lake Regional News discussed the overall schedule for the lake, the NJ State Park administration shared that the controversial five-foot draw-down scheduled for 2018 is still under review with the State.

$500,000 Fund - Passes NJ Senate Committee

Additional help for the lake could be coming from Legislation sponsored by Senate Republicans Anthony Bucco, Steven Oroho and Joe Pennacchio to establish the “Lake Hopatcong Fund” has passed the Senate Environment Committee. The bill still has a way to go to get through the legislative approval process, but this is excellent news.

S-2389 would dedicate $500,000 annually to the “Lake Hopatcong Fund,” for the protection, preservation, restoration, maintenance, management and enhancement of New Jersey’s largest state-run lake. The funds would come from license fees required to operate power boats on nontidal waters.

This bill would establish the “Lake Hopatcong Fund” and dedicate to the fund $500,000 annually from license fees required to operate power boats on nontidal waters. The moneys would be used by the Lake Hopatcong Commission for the protection, preservation, restoration, maintenance, management and enhancement of the lake.

“Lake Hopatcong brings in millions in revenue for the state each year,” Senator Bucco (R-Morris, Somerset) said. “Our economy will suffer if we don’t find a stable way to pay for annual weed harvesting and stormwater management. We shouldn’t have to scramble every year to find the money we need to keep boaters and swimmers safe. I believe that our bill is a fiscally-responsible solution to this problem. I will continue to do everything I can to get it signed into law.”